1 February 2010
Government bombs out
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ordered an end to new purchases of GT200 bomb detectors which had proven a national embarrassment. Based on doubts in Thailand and overseas about the devices’ capabilities, tests of their accuracy in February showed they were no more reliable than a dowsing rod.
Field trials by a panel appointed by the Ministry of Science and Technology gave the devices a 20% success rate, prompting Mr Abhisit’s decision to halt any more procurement. Nevertheless, security officials continued to deploy the devices for detecting bombs, especially in the troubled lower South. Troops raised concerns that their safety was being compromised by too much reliance placed on their readings. The army responded that deploying the devices was better than having no safeguards at all.
The Air Force, the first to purchase the alleged bomb detectors, bought four GT200 devices from Avia Satcom Co through a special procurement process under Prime Minister’s Office regulations in 2005. The army bought them next, acquiring 216 GT200 devices for 1.2 million baht each under army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin. Gen Anupong Paojinda, who succeeded Gen Sonthi as army commander, approved an additional acquisition of 541 GT200 devices from Avia Satcom Co in 2007 and 2008. The army purchased 757 GT200 detectors altogether. Distributor Avia Satcom Co, which sold the devices, was the only company to win contracts to supply GT200s to government agencies. The Office of the Auditor General and the Department of Special Investigation investigated to see if any collusion took place between the distributor and those who authorised the procurements.
1 February 2010
Government bombs out
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ordered an end to new purchases of GT200 bomb detectors which had proven a national embarrassment. Based on doubts in Thailand and overseas about the devices’ capabilities, tests of their accuracy in February showed they were no more reliable than a dowsing rod.
Field trials by a panel appointed by the Ministry of Science and Technology gave the devices a 20% success rate, prompting Mr Abhisit’s decision to halt any more procurement. Nevertheless, security officials continued to deploy the devices for detecting bombs, especially in the troubled lower South. Troops raised concerns that their safety was being compromised by too much reliance placed on their readings. The army responded that deploying the devices was better than having no safeguards at all.
The Air Force, the first to purchase the alleged bomb detectors, bought four GT200 devices from Avia Satcom Co through a special procurement process under Prime Minister’s Office regulations in 2005. The army bought them next, acquiring 216 GT200 devices for 1.2 million baht each under army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin. Gen Anupong Paojinda, who succeeded Gen Sonthi as army commander, approved an additional acquisition of 541 GT200 devices from Avia Satcom Co in 2007 and 2008. The army purchased 757 GT200 detectors altogether. Distributor Avia Satcom Co, which sold the devices, was the only company to win contracts to supply GT200s to government agencies. The Office of the Auditor General and the Department of Special Investigation investigated to see if any collusion took place between the distributor and those who authorised the procurements.